Interlocking bonding block



' 1,583,985. May 11 1926' H. R. MCLACHLAN A INTERLOCKING BONDING BLOCK Filed June 11, 1925 4 A x" A ,MH

'nlf/ '/m Patented May 11, 1926,

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HUGH R. MCLACHLAN, F PITTSBRGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTER/LOCKING BGNDING- BLOCK.

Application filed June 1l, 1925.

This invention relates to building blocks and more in particular to interlockingbonding-blocks to be used especially in the construction of boiler settings made up of a fire brick wall and an outer brick wall sepa-rated by an air space.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an interlocking-bonding-block made of refractory material which is adapted to allow for the expansion or contraction in all directions of the fire brick walls due to the heat. generated in the furnace chamber of a boiler. Another object of this invention is to provide an interlockingebonding-block which is capable of supporting the` heavy loads due to the port-ions ofthe fire wall built over it. A further object of this invention vis to provide such a boiidiiigblock, the component parts of which may be: easily molded and which, therefore, can be manufactured at a relatively low cost. Additional features and advantages of this invention will appear from the following descrip tion considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application. v

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the so-called male portion of the interlocking-bondingblock.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation 0f Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the sot-called female portion of the interlockingbondingblock. f

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the complete interlocking-bonding-block.

Fig.k 9 is a fractional vertical cross-section taken through a boiler setting wall built with interlocking-bonding-blocks forming the subject matter of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the inner wall of the boiler setting.

Reference being had especially tol Figs. 1 to 3, the male half of the bonding-block comprises a rectangular body portion 1 the front end 2 of which isstraight and of twice the height and twice the width as the 'standard bricks used in the inner .and outer wall wardlyfdrected face 4l and an upwardlydi-` Serial No. 36,390.

rected bottom 5. Centrally disposed below the ledge and level with the bottom 6 of the body portion is the bracket 7 having a straight rear face 8 and a top 9 which suitably declines from the rear inwardly until it strikes the edge 10 formed by the planes 4 and 5.

The female half of the interlocking-bonding-block, shown particularly in Figs. 4 to 7 is composed of the body portion 11, of the same cross-section as the male body, preferably, and having at each side of the top 12 of the front end 13 a rectangular recess 14 of substantially the same length and -depth as the standard brick from which the inner wall is built, and yhaving a width equal substantially to one half the width of said standard brick. rEhe central web 15 is, therefore, of the same size as a standard brick. The rear end 16 of the female half has a face 17 which is partly tapered down and outwardly to conform with the taper of the face 4 of the male half and isterminated by the two parallel and spaced tingers 18, the top 19 of which is inclined to .tit the taper ofthe bottom 5 of the male half. The open space 2O between the` iingers, and the recess 21 cut in the bottom of the female half and reaching underneath the face 17, are adapted to receive the bracket 7 of the male half.

The engaging portions of the male and female halves of the interlockingbonding block are suitably dimensioned to provide sufficient loose-play to allow for the normal amount of expansion or contraction which may occur in the inner and outer walls of the boiler setting. It will be found in practice that a clearance of about one eighth of an inch between the interlocking parts of the two halves will answer the purpose.

Referring to Fig. 8, in which the clearances for loose-play vare indicated by the numeral 22, it will be noted that, once the male and female halves of the bonding-block are assembled and thelatter is laidvinthe brick work o-f the boiler setting, it will be impossible to fully separate said halves and the inward or outward movements of the inner wall, due to the variations in the temperature in the fire chamber, will be limited by the loose-play in the bonding-block. This same loose-play will also amply provide for all vertical or horizontal movements of the walls.

Owing to the particular construction" of the interlocking-bonding-block, the latter is also well suited for supporting its allotted share of the weight of either the inner or outer wall of the boiler setting. In Fig. 9 is shown the condition wherein part of the inner wall is assumed t-o have been completely destroyed by the action of the .fire and wherein the lower bonding-block supporting` a detached portion of said wall. This is a very import-ant advantage of said block, as it prevents the crumbling down of the upper, and still usable, port-ion of the wall, due to the fact that the bonding-block is of the same kind of refractory material as the standard fire bricks, but substantially four times as large iu cross-section, hence being capa-ble of resisting the effects of the lire much longer than said standard bricks. Moreover, the interlockingL portions of the bonding-block, being situated in the air space 25, are not exposed to the intense heat in the lire-chamber.

To disguise the presence of the heavy rbending-blocks and maintain the uniform appearance of the mortar joints, the visible frontends of the two halves of the bondingblock are preferably provided with suitably placed grooves 23 and .24C v-hich simulate said mortar joints.

Where the conditions of the construction or the size of the bonding blocks require 1t, the male and female halves are reinforced with steel barsimbedded therein to assist the engaging portions of both halves to better sustain the loa-ds and stresses imposed upon them. Thus, the male half is reinforced with the steel rod 26 bent substantially into the shape of a U and the female half is strengthened by the similarly bent steel rod 2? reaching from the body 11 .into the lingers 18. Owing to their positions, these reinforcing bars will at all times be protected against the intense heat of the fire.

As will be readily understood, .any desired width of air space 25 in the ,boiler setting walls may be obtained by suitably varying the lengthof .the body port-ions of either one or both halves of the interlocking-bonding-block.

Obviously, the invention is notv limited or restricted to .any kind of material employed, or restricted Vto the precise and exact details and proportions of th@ @obstruction as illustrated and described?. Igor is its use limited to the construction of boiler setting walls, furnace walls, eta, because it is susceptible of a variety of embodiments and applications, .and minor details may be changed in such preferred incorporation of the invention without departing from the spi-rit and scope of the .invention as claimed,

` If claim rl. Ina bonding-block of the character desuited., a anale :petti e ,nella Said male part having a ledge positioned at the rear end thereof and provided with a downwardly beveled face and an upwardly beveled bottom, and a. central bracket positioned below said ledge, the top of said bracket-starting at the apex formed by the face and bottom of said ledge and tapering upwardly :therefrom to its rear end; thc female part having at its rear end two spaced lingers in parallel relation and a recessed portion both adapted to receive therebetween said br cket, the rear face and lingers of said female parts being beveled to o conform to the shape of said ledge and bracket engaged thereby.

2. In a bonding-block of the character described, a male part; a female part, said male part hav-ing a ledge positioned at the rear 4end thereof and provided with a downwardly beveled face .and an upwardly beveled bottom., and a central bracket positioned below said ledge, the top of said bracket starting at the vapex formed by the face and bottom .of said ledge and tapering upwardly therefrom to its rear end; the female part having at its rearend two spaced fingers in parallel relation and la recessed portion both adapted to receive therebetween sai-d bracket, the, rear face and tingers of .said female par-t being beveled to conform to the shape of said ledge and bracket engaged thereby; said female part having also two parallel rectangular recesses positioned longitudinally at they 'top corners of the front end thereof and adapted to support the adjacent ybricks of tlie. 'brick wall in which said female partis incorporated.

3. In a bonding-block of the character de scribed, a mal-'e part; :a female part, said male part having a led-ge positioned at the rear end thereof and provided with a downwardly beveled face and an upwardly beveled bottom, and a central bracket positioned below said ledge, the :top of said bracket starting at the apex formed by the face and bottoni of said ledge and tapering upwardly therefrom to its rear end.; the female part having at its rear lend two spaced fingers in parallel relation and a recessed portion both adapted toL receive :therebetween said bracket, the rear face and lin.- gers of said: female` part being beveled to conform to the. shape of .said ledge and bracket engaged thereby; said female part having also twoiparallel rectangnlar recesses positioned longitudinally at `the top corners of the frontend thereof and adapted to support the adjacent bricks tof .the brick wall which said female partis incorpointed5 and grooves formed in the friont faces .of said male and female. parts lto simulate mortar joints.

In. .a bonding-block of theeharaeter k.des` sented. e Part e 'e lits sans *formed integrally with said parts for removably locking them together; said locking means being adapted to afford a predetermined amount of relative displacement of said parts in all directions and to permit the imposition of loads on either one of said parts wlren unsupported, and reinforcing means imbedded individually in said male and female parts.

5. In a bonding-block of the character described, a male part; a female part; said male partliaving a ledge positioned at the rear end thereof and provided with a down wardly beveled face and an upwardly l5 beveled bottom, and a central bracket positioned below said ledge, the top of said bracket starting at the apex formed by the face and bottom of said ledge and tapering` upwardly therefrom to its rear end; the female part having atk its rear end two spaced fingers in parallel relation and a recessed portion both adapted to receive therebetween said bracket, the rear face and fingers of said female part being beveled to conform to the shape of said ledge and bracket engaged thereby; and reinforcing means imbedded individually in said male and female parts.

ln testimony whereof I aliiX my signature.

HUGH R. MCLACHLAN. 

